What does it mean to keep kosher?

To keep kosher means to follow strict Jewish biblically dictated dietary laws. Kosher is derived from the Hebrew kasher, for "proper" or "pure," and kosher food is prepared with the blessing of a hovering rabbi, grown organically and killed humanely (in the case of animals), making it appealing to health-conscious non-Jews as well.

Pigs and rabbits are not kosher, along with all shellfish. Kosher rules also dictate which foods can be eaten together, particularly that meat and milk cannot be mixed in any one dish, and in conservative households, even cooked with the same pans and utensils. A fully kosher kitchen has two of everything, down to the dishwasher, to prevent any contamination between meat and milk.